THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT JOURNEY

after A One Way Ticket Mr. Z, d. Z. Kudła, 1992

I’m sitting on a train folding bits of paper into
unrecognizable shapes. This is a boat collecting life
preservers. This is the ocean with endless waves. This
is that same boat sinking. I try to eat some food but
everything tastes like metal. I’m sitting on a train
folding bits of metal into small trains, into pieces of
fruit, into other passengers, into wars. I try to sleep
but I’m worried if I close my eyes I’ll end up in the
future. I’m sitting on a train folding myself into
breathing machines, into stairs on the side of a
mountain, into an old song that marks the beginning
of a great journey.

David Wojciechowski is the author of Dreams I Never Told You & Letters I Never Sent (Gold Wake, 2017) and the chapbook Koniec (End) (Greying Ghost, 2023). David is the editor of Postcard and works as a freelance graphic designer. He can be found at davidwojo.com and on Twitter and Instagram @MrWojoRising.